‘Some going scot-free in desilting scam’

While Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken strong action against all contractors in the desilting scam, those who have been given desilting works of minor nullahs have let off the hook. Lack of action against these contractors have raised questions over BMC’s claims of weeding out corruption in desilting works, Opposition parties have alleged.

The city had witnessed flooding with most areas going under water during the heavy rains on June 18-19 last year. After initiating a probe, the BMC unearthed a desilting scam and black listed all the 32 contractors, who were found of irregularities in their works. Following this, the civic body scrapped desilting works contracts of the years 2015-16 and 2016-17 and has invited new tenders.

“The minor nullah contractors did the same thing as the contractors of major nullah desilting works. But while action has been taken against major nullah contractors, the minor nullah contractors have been allowed to go scot-free. They too have cheated the civic body like their counterparts in the desilting scam. There should be an enquiry into their works too,” said Opposition leader and Congress corporator Devendra Amberkar.

According to the civic sources, the minor nullah contractors have participated in the new tenders for desilting and they have quoted a very high price for nullah cleaning.

The civic body has decided to pay as per tonnes instead of cubic metres for removing the silt. The contractors have quoted approximately 133 per cent higher rate for the desilting work.